caribbean sun news july 09 part 2[1]

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conference and identifying action to be taken arising out of the meeting.

Participants had identified the need for a coordinated approach to tackling many of theproblems affecting small businesses both in the US and in the Caribbean, noting that anumber of problems was having a negative impact on trade, investment, access to financ-ing and permitting and related issues at the local level. Access to information on a timelybasis was also identified as a serious impediment to the sustainability and growth of Car-ibbean owned small enterprises at both ends of the Caribbean Sea.

According to a concept paper obtained by Caribbean Sun, the US Caribbean Basin Re-source Network is a non profit organization incorporated as a corporation under the Non-Profit Corporation Act. The mission of the Network is to foster strategic alliances amongsmall businesses and to develop partnerships with government agencies and regional in-stitutions, so as to create an enabling environment for the growth and competitiveness ofCaribbean owned small businesses in the US and the Caribbean Basin.

Work on the development of the Network was started in September 2008 following indepth research on the problems confronting SME’s in the Caribbean and North Americaand the need for the provision of information and other resources to adequately addressthese problems. The proposed management team will consist of the board of directors, anadvisory committee, an executive director and a program/membership manager in addi-tion to an administrative assistant.

Misir announced that Caribbean Sun publisher Wesley Kirton had been identified to serveas the entity’s executive director. According to the concept paper, the new body is to beofficially launched in September 2009 and will work closely with agencies such as theUnited States Agency for International Development (USAID), US Customs and BorderProtection, the Environmental Protection Agency, city and state governments around theUS, Caribbean Central American Action (CCAA), as well as Caribbean institutions suchas the Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute (CARDI), the Univer-sity of the West Indies, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat and regionalgovernments and private sector bodies. Many of these institutions participated in this year’sCaribbean Expo and Conference.

Some 300 people attended the formal opening ceremony and reception of the event whichwas addressed by a cast of high powered speakers from both the US and the Caribbean.This was followed by two days of in-depth discussion and analysis of the opportunitiesand challenges to which Caribbean owned businesses are exposed.

This year’s event focused more on the conference given the need for expert analysis andrecommendations as to how best Caribbean owned small businesses might survive thecurrent financial crisis, the event’s executive director Keith Gooden said.

“We put together some of the best panels ever assembled to discuss the challenges con-fronting small businesses and the opportunities which are available given the current glo-bal scenario,” Gooden said.

Last month, the role and functions of the new organization, which is to take over theplanning and operation of the annual Caribbean American Business Expo and Confer-ence, were discussed in briefings on Capitol Hill and at the White House.

New Organization will protect, promote interest,– Continued from page 1 –


Lifestyles Caribbean Horoscope for July 2009

CANCER (Jun 22 - Jul 23)Crabs may chaff at the leash this July. Not only do you ache for some timealone, you need it in order to re-approach, refresh and reassess certain cloyingrelationships. Are partnerships giving you what you need? Honesty will bethe best policy ... unless it is brutal honesty. So be sure to add some sugar toevery bitter pill to avoid indigestion.

LEO (Jul 24 - Aug 23)Keeping secrets to yourself will not move the needle on the job. Lions withambition need to be forthright in their opinions, especially when it has to dowith their role in the organization or with the expectations of their co-work-ers. Are you meeting or exceeding your agreed upon goals? If not, prepare forsome big changes this month.

VIRGO (Aug 24 - Sep 23)Sitting at home and eating in front of the television may have its charms atother times of the year but in July the fates demand that you expand yoursocial reach and get out of your safe cocoon. Virgins can meet new and inter-esting friends now who will prove to be pivotal to your future happiness.Press and impress... and I don’t mean the couch cushions.

LIBRA (Sep 24 - Oct 23)You are brimming with great professional ideas. Can you get anyone in au-thority to listen to you? All bets are off this July unless you find important andpowerful folks from other areas of your life to come to your assistance. Librasare charmers so turn up the heat on your charisma and see how brightly youcan burn. Stop at warm before you become toast.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 - Nov 22)They say “those who can’t do, teach” but that is plain wrong. Scorps not onlycan “do”, they are also able to impart their wisdom effectively. So use July tospread your word and see how lucrative it will be. Even better, use your knowl-edge to become and effective leader. Create a new ground swell and use it asfertilizer for your own victory garden.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 - Dec 22)Archrs are known for their reckless extravagance and July is no exception.You are full of love and have no qualms about lavishing your affections andmoney on a certain delightful someone. But limit your budget to affordabletreats. Sometimes you can win hearts through good deeds rather than grandtrinkets. Sometimes ....

CAPRICORN (Dec 23 - Jan 20)You, me or we? That is the question this July. Caps expect to find all theanswers to their life course within another person. But the surprise conclusionis that you have all the answers you need for your personal happiness allwithin yourself. Of course a second opinion from you-know-who can some-times be appreciated. But it is all icing on the cheesecake.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 - Feb 19)There are no secrets at work so avoid long lunches and mental health days.And if you decide to cheat on your diet there will be no calorie-free option.The gremlins will gleefully add on the pounds. Aquarians can’t seem to getaway with anything this July, try as they will.So don’t even try. Be honest,thrifty and clean ... until August.

PISCES (Feb 20 - Mar 20)Turn your attention to creative pursuits this July. Pisces can expand their ar-tistic impact by enlisting the help of friends. But an even better, more effec-tive way of making your mark on the landscape is to join new relevant orga-nizations that place you in touch with the experts. Ask advice, listen carefullyand then show the world how it is really done.

ARIES (Mar 21 - Apr 20)Even if your home life is not perfect there is a great deal to recommend it.Rams find that good thoughts take them far with relatives and in their homesurroundings. And, with domestic knots untangled, you can focus on mani-festing transformations on the job front. Enlist a friendly helping hand to as-sist you in your corporate climb. Don’t step on their fingers.

TAURUS (Apr 21 - MAY 21)Stop talking to yourself or to just your small coterie of rabid fans. July de-mands that you get your ideas pushed out into the blogosphere as soon aspossible. Many of your opinions have the potential to change the global land-scape while others are mere potholes that will trip you up. The questions is -do you know which is which, Bull?

GEMINI (May 22 - Jun 21)Many Twins lapse into mindgames when they really should take a risk anddeliberate action. The July, confound the experts and get up off your contem-plative pose. Express yourself with the powers-that-be. Glad handing poten-tially well endowed benefactors might wind up delivering you a lump sum.Some folks have all the luck!

Caribbean fans stunned byMichael’s death

(Carib World News) -Before there was Barack Obama, there was Michael Jackson, sailing acrosscolor lines and building an unprecedented fan base in every country around the globe, whetherthe people there were black or white. And the Caribbean fan base was no exception. Now, manyare crying openly or expressing stunned disbelief that the great MJ had suddenly passed on.

“I cried today because Michael Jackson was a Father that we all lost!” exclaimed Haitiansinger Wyclef Jean in a Tweet. “He lives forever in my heart. I will never forget the day hecame to see me in the studio and I played him music. RIP to Michael Jackson my music God.”

Jamaican-born reggae music journalist and commentator, Sharon Gordon toldCaribWorldNews that Jackson’s death “really hurts”; while music writer Stan Smith, likemany others, was still trying to take in the tragic news.

“It is really shocking,” added mas costume creator, Trinidadian Rheba Escalera.

“I feel terrible about it. He was my icon too,” reflected exclaimed Barbadian-born AubreyCampbell of CaribVoiceRadio.


Caribbean ProfileEach issue of the Caribbean Sun newspaper features a brief profile of

a Caribbean country/island provided by welcometothecaribbean.com

LifestylesRECIPES! RECIPES! RECIPES! RECIPES!

ARUBA

ArubaOfficial Name: ArubaArea: 193 square km. (77 sq. miles)Capital: OranjestadNationality: ArubanOfficial Language: Dutch, English is spokenPopulation: 90,610Currency: Aruban Florin (AF)Exchange Rate: U.S. $1.00 = AF$1.79Time Zone: EST +1; GMT -4Phone Code: Country Code (297), plus local 6 digit number

Geography

Aruba is locatedabout 20 miles offthe northern coast ofVenezuela. It is ap-proximately 19miles long by four(4) miles wide. Itsrugged interior issaid to resemble theAustralian outback,its terrain dottedwith shrubs, hillsand a jagged coast-line. Its warm clear waters boast an abundance of seal life and its beaches are lined withpalm trees. The northern part of the island is hilly. The climate is very tropical withrefreshing northeast trade winds and year-round temperature of about 82 degrees F.

History

Aruba was first settled by theAmerindians who moved north fromSouth America. The Spanish discov-ered the island in 1499 and it wascolonized by the Dutch from 1636 butheld by the British between 1805-1816. The island was once part of theNetherlands Antilles but seceded fromthat group on January 1, 1986 to be-come a separate entity within the King-dom of the Netherlands.

Economy

Tourism, which contributes nearly 38 per cent of GDP, 70 per cent of total exports and 35per cent of employment is the main economic activity in Aruba. However there is ongo-ing economic diversification to include financial services, telecommunications and afreezone. The island has been registering economic growth of five per cent annually inrecent years.

People & Culture

The Aruban population comprises a mixture of Carib and Arawak Indian, Africans andEuropeans thus offering a rich and diverse culture.

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Firstly, as Binswanger points out, there is no right to protection from job competition -especially not in America. Secondly, as Roger Lowenstein observes, globalization is just asmuch to blame for American job loss as immigration, if not more. Globalization has erodedborders on goods, services, information, labor, and virtually everything but humans. Thereis no virtual fence being built around American corporations to prevent them from outsourcingjobs to China or India where labor is even cheaper than imported Mexican labor.

The Economics of Immigration

It should be noted that there are valid economic arguments on both sides of the debate.Economists generally agree that, on the whole, immigration benefits the economy. Butdisagreement does lie in the analysis of the distribution of the relative impact of immigra-tion. While immigration allows middle class soccer moms to pay less for household help,American housecleaners theoretically face more job competition and lower wages.

However, there is debate over the extent of the impact on poor Americans. Economist GeorgeBorjas believes that, using the theory of supply and demand, he has proved that immigrantshurt native workers - an increase in the unskilled labor force translates to a greater supply ofsuch labor and subsequently lower wages. Conversely, economist David Card maintainsthat from an economic standpoint, the impact of immigration is negligible.

According to Card, 21 million immigrants held jobs in the United States in 2006, yet therewere only 7 million unemployed U.S. citizens. Therefore, most immigrants could notpossibly have “taken” jobs from Americans. At least 14 million immigrants, he says, wereworking in jobs that wouldn’t have existed if there were no immigrant presence. To Card,this shows that, although the Supply curve shifts out, “the Demand curve also shifts out,”effectively balancing the effect on the market.

Furthermore, Mexican immigrants, who are both the largest and probably the most stig-matized immigrant group in the United States, tend to seek jobs that most Americans aretoo educated to do.

Profile of an Immigrant

More than 30 percent of immigrants to the United States are of Mexican origin and morethan 60 percent of Mexican immigrants are high school dropouts. In this sense, Luciano Sfits the profile of a typical undocumented worker in the United States.

At 17, he dropped out of high school and paid a coyote $1200 to arrange his passage onfoot from Mexicali to Los Angeles. His situation in Mexico was not desperate, but he wastired of life in that country and the financial hardship his family was facing at the time. Heplanned to stay and work for two years, save money and go back home to study, so thereseemed to be no need to go through the hassle of all the paperwork required to obtain avisa. Now, nine years later, he regrets that decision.

His life would be much easier if he were in the U.S. legally. With the onset of the recession hehas seen a reduction in work hours induced by a reduction in jobs and mounting credit cardbills. Yet when asked if he would consider returning to Mexico, he replies, “But what would Ido in Mexico if I don’t have anything?” Luciano prefers to stay and look for work in the UnitedStates where, “one way or another, there is work.” That is more than he can say about Mexico.

After nine years in the United States, Luciano says he sometimes feels as if he had beenborn and raised in this country. He doesn’t want to leave - not even to see his parents, whohe misses very much - because it would be too difficult to get back in. He knows that, evenwithout papers, his life is better in America than it would be in Mexico. And he has not yetgiven up hope that future immigration reform in this country will benefit him.

Although he has not seen anything concrete from the Obama administration in terms ofimmigration reform, Luciano is waiting to pass judgment until after he sees its proposal.Ideally, he would like to see an amnesty similar to the one granted in 1986. “First amnesty;then reform,” he says. Before you can change policy for newcomers you must address theissue presented by those already in the country. But reform is also necessary, because, asLuciano says, “even if they close the border, immigration won’t stop.” Policy makers haveto develop policies that deal with reality.

“Economic salvation is in immigration reform,” Luciano jokes, referring to the economicboost that all the fines would give to the U.S. Treasury. This is, of course, in addition to themoney that Luciano and millions of other undocumented immigrants have been consis-tently paying into the coffers of the U.S. government, mostly in the form of social security.Perhaps this economic contribution is a factor in the difficulty economists seem to have infinding real evidence of actual harm that is traceable to immigration.

Where to go now

Regardless, “immigration policy has never been based on economics.” Although eco-nomic fears have played a role in the rejectionist sentiment exhibited in the exclusionaryacts against the Chinese in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the quotas aimed atSouthern and Eastern Europeans in the 1920s, and the current outcry against illegal immi-grants from Mexico, xenophobia has actually been a much greater driving force behind allof these waves of anti-immigrant sentiment. This is illustrated by Luciano’s question:“Why when they talk about illegal immigrants do they only mean Mexicans?”

Xenophobia and racism need to be identified and rejected in any comprehensive immigra-tion reform package. Obama has said that “if the American people don’t feel like you cansecure the borders, then it’s hard to strike a deal” that includes a path to citizenship forthose who are already here.

But this is the wrong jumping off point for immigration reform, which needs to take a morehuman approach. While the validity of international borders is disputable, they are generallyrecognized. But the vulnerability, in human terms, of those affected by Washington’s immi-gration policy must also be recognized and respected. There is a distinction between civiland criminal law, and crossing the border is not a criminal offense. No country should bemore aware of this than the United States, a nation built and made prosperous by immi-grants. As Arlington, Texas Police Chief T. Bowman said at a press conference on the impactof legislation allowing police to conduct immigration related investigations, “Justice” ismore than “just ICE” - the U.S. Homeland Security agency responsible for deportation.

A look at Immigration Issues—Continued from June issue—

Is MichaelJackson’s doctora West Indian?

On Thursday, June 25, 2009 Dr.Conrad Robert Murray, the 51 year oldcardiologist, shot onto the world’sstage when police investigating thedeath of the pop icon Micheal Jack-son questioned him about what tookplace in the final moments ofJackson’s life.

But who is Dr. Conrad Murray?

According to the Trinidad Express,reports are that Dr. Murray was bornin San JuanTrinidad and he migratedwith his family to the US when he wasin fifth standard. Prior to his migra-tion, Murray attended, according toreports, Febeau Government PrimarySchool and helped set up the CardiacCauterisation Lab at the St. ClaireMedical Center.

Dr. Murray filed for bankruptcy inRiverdale, CA in 1992 and it is re-ported that he currently has judge-ments totalling $435,000 againsthim or his company. At the time ofthis writing, Dr. Murray was notconsidered a suspect in the death ofMr. Jackson.


Selman LewisMemorial

Scholarship FundMiami Carnival Inc. has established a Scholarship to honor the memory of the lateSelman Lewis. Selman stood as an example for the community - excelling in the pro-motion, marketing and production of Miami Carnival and other Carnivals throughoutthe diaspora,and promoting the culture of his beloved native land, Trinidad & Tobago.Scholarships such as this are critical to the immediate and long term health of our Car-ibbean students.

The Scholarship Fund is hosted by Dade Community Foundation. The Advisory Boardfor the Fund includes representatives of the Dade Community Foundation and also in-cludes Selman’s widow, Janet, as well as Jerry Nagee, well-known for her contributionsto our community over the years.

The Scholarship is designed to financially assist qualified applicants in obtaining degreesfrom accredited academic institutions of higher learning in the fields of arts and sciences.The program is open to any high school student of Caribbean heritage preparing to enteran accredited degree-granting college or university.

To make contributions to the Selman Lewis Memorial Scholarship Fund, please visit oneof the two following websites:

http://www.MiamiCarnival.Net (Link on Home Page directly to Dade Community Foundation)

http://www.dadecommunityfoundation.org/Site//wc/wc233.jsp?menuid=198

Or send a check payable to Dade Community Foundation at the following address:

Dade Community Foundation200 South Biscayne Boulevard Suite 505Miami, FL 33131-5330

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Tell them you saw their ad inflorida’S caribbean sun!

CaribbeanNationals Must

Participate In The2010 Census

CaribPRWire, NEW YORK, NY: How many Caribbean nationals are there in the U.S.? Itis impossible to say for sure because while, there are several different ways an individualcould self-identify on the U.S. Census form, including, for example Samoan, those whoidentify ourselves proudly as Caribbean or West Indian, cannot.

Caribbean nationals are currently forced to ignore their ancestry or origin and fit them-selves only ethnically into categories - African American, Asian American or written in, inthe OTHER box. This of course makes it impossible to statistically measure their truenumbers in America, their political impact and of course their economic contribution.

While Caribbean nationals have been in America since slavery, their contribution remainslargely unmeasured, which has resulted in the ignoring of the community on the ‘main-stream,‘ by not just the private sector but by many politicians. The continued dismissal islinked largely to the inaccurate count.

Come March 2010, the Caribbean community has a chance to change this trend. The callfrom CaribID, the movement started in 2008 by Felicia Persaud, founder ofCaribWorldNews, to get Caribbean nationals accurately counted and most importantly,their own ancestry category on future Census forms.

This will allow for a win-win situation for the community and for the black and Asiancommunities of which many Caribbean nationals ethnically identify.

To date, Carib ID has been able to secure the Caribbean Count bill, through its lobbying efforts.

The historic bill was introduced on April 23, 2009 by Caribbean American Congresswoman,Yvette Clarke. On May 20th, Senators Chuck Schumer and Kristin Gillibrand answered CaribID‘scall and introduced the companion U.S. Senate bil, while African American Congressmembers,Charles Rangel and Gregory Meeks, signed on as co-sponsors to the House bill.

Unfortunately, these bills will not become law in time for 2010 so CaribID is urging allCaribbean nationals to truly ‘stand up and be counted,‘ by writing in their country of originunder question 8 of the form, tick ‘No Not Hispanic,‘ and fill in their race under question 9.

The push is to ensure that a clear message is sent, that like Hispanics, Caribbean nationalstoo want to identify their ancestry and get back some of the millions of dollars they arepaying in taxes each year to their communities.

Data generated by the census is used not only to determine voter representation, but also tohelp equitably distribute federal funding from a wide range of government programs, includ-ing for class room sizes, health care in communities, immigration services, among others.

And Census data is an invaluable resource to private industry, helping businesses makesensible decisions about how and where to expand their capital. An accurate count of theCaribbean community will highlight their purchasing power and economic impact both inthe U.S. and global markets.

This means that Caribbean media, event promoters and community organizations andchurches must join the effort and become ambassadors to spread the word, since they allstand to benefit from an accurate count of the Caribbean population.

Undocumented immigrants too are urged to fill out and return the Census form, whichwill be mailed to all U.S. households in March of 2010. Especially because filling out aform ensures you proof that you are living in the U.S.; proof you can now use to apply fora green card when immigration reform is approved by the Congress. President BarackObama is insisting that he wants to push the immigration reform agenda for a vote this falland advocates are optimistic earned legalization that could help the undocumented livingin the U.S. without legal working papers, to get on the path to a green card.

CaribID officials also are calling on the many organization heads, Caribbean diplomatsand others in all spectrum of the Caribbean Diaspora, to join in spreading the word andlending their support to the movement, since as a unit there is tremendous strength.

To donate, volunteer or help email [email protected]. For more information, log onto www.caribid2010.com.

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By Sandra Ann Baptiste

CARICOM leaders meet in Guyana for their annual Summit against the backdrop of aneconomic slowdown and projected negative growth this year in several Member States,tensions over immigration policies, trade disputes, an upsurge in crime and expectationsthat they must deliver on programs to pull the region out of the current economic slump.

The region’s leaders also have to contend with lethargy among some members within thegroup in the drive towards the full implementation of the CARICOM Single Market andEconomy (CSME) and the failure to honour several timetables they themselves set, in-cluding in the area of agricultural reform and development.

Summit host and incoming Chairman, Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo and CARICOMSecretary-General, Edwin Carrington are nevertheless upbeat about the regional integra-tion movement as it marks its 36th anniversary. They are both confident that the Heads ofGovernment will take steps to address the mounting challenges resulting from the impactof the global economic and financial turmoil on the small and vulnerable economies of theregion, including rising unemployment.

education and health, including progress towards the establishment of a Caribbean PublicHealth Authority and the Pan Caribbean Partnership for HIV. In education, CARICOMvocational qualifications have been established. There has also been stepped up coopera-tion on climate change issues.

As well, the CARICOM Development Fund was established and attracted contributions ofapproximately US $ 70 million of the US $ 250 million target set. The Fund will be used toprovide financial and technical assistance to disadvantaged countries, regions and sectors.

The CDB president feels if the region’s governments honour their commitments to themulti-pronged Jagdeo Initiative on Agriculture, this will result in farming being morecommercially viable and distribution and marketing of agricultural products more effi-cient. In the early 1980s, his predecessor William Demas urged that concrete steps betaken to put a dent in the unacceptably high annual food import bill, now at US 3 billiondollars. After endorsing it in 2004, CARICOM leaders agreed in 2007 to implement theJagdeo Initiative over an 18 month-period.

The credit crunch has affected Caribbean exporters, who are feeling the pinch of reducedworking capital and demands by suppliers for up-front payments for raw materials. At therecent CDB annual meeting, Dr. Bourne proposed that measures by regional governmentsinclude interest rates reduction, special credit lines at development institutions, an expan-sion of trade credit facilities and government loan guarantees.

Since the region does not have the resources to finance many of the initiatives theCARICOM leaders will review, they are focusing on resource mobilization and will havediscussions during the Summit with representatives of key International Institutions (IFIs).

On the tourism front, for the 2009 winter season, some CARICOM countries experienceda double-digit decline in tourist arrivals including in The Bahamas (15.3%), Antigua andBarbuda (13.6%), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (12.9%) after a lackluster performancein 2008, which saw steep declines in arrivals from the U.S. and Canada for several desti-nations. Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, who has lead responsibility for tour-ism, will provide an update that will include proposals emanating from the recent high-level Caribbean tourism think thank held in Washington.

CARICOM sources indicate that the membership application from the Dominican Repub-lic is more or less when rather than if, bearing in mind the close working relationship thatexists through CARIFORUM and that this is likely to proceed in 2010. Some CARICOMobservers note that the relationship between CARICOM and the DR has not been entirelysmooth and that widening the movement, in this case, will likely bring with it more chal-lenges than benefits.

On External trade negotiations, a meeting between CARICOM Ministers and Canada’sInternational Trade Minister, has more than once been postponed and is scheduled forSeptember to lay the groundwork for what the region hopes will be a trade and develop-

A monthly column on Caribbean issues

Caribbean PerspectivesCaribbean PerspectivesA monthly column on Caribbean issues

CHALLENGING TIME FOR CARICOM LEADERS

...Bourne feels the drive towards the SingleMarket and Economy has been a bumpy one andwill only become smoother if there is progressin the thorny issue of movement of labourwhereby decisions are actually implemented.

President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr. Compton Bourne, who re-cently highlighted the need for “national economic leadership” to steer the region out ofthe current crisis precipitated by the global recession, notes that there have been more“exhortations than implementation and support” in many areas.

According to Bourne, after reviewing the proposed solutions from the various task forcesand other studies, which the Heads of Government will consider, they need to identify mea-sures that are “well thought out and speedily implemented.” Bourne headed one of two taskforces that focused on the implications for the region of the sharp global contraction. Theother task force, led by Barbadian economist Delisle Worrell, will provide the CARICOMleaders with “ a strategic framework and action plan for implementing priorities”.

To date, Bourne feels the drive towards the Single Market and Economy has been a bumpyone and will only become smoother if there is progress in the thorny issue of movement oflabour whereby decisions are actually implemented.

The pubic statements on immigration and the Jamaica -Trinidad trade dispute by the gov-ernments involved have only helped to fuel anti-CARICOM sentiments in those coun-tries. The Jamaican patties were initially denied access to the Trinidadian market andother Jamaican products faced a similar fate in Belize and Barbados. In the case of Barba-dos, exporters there feel there is a “tit for tat”, claiming many of their containers are beingheld up deliberately in Kingston. While there are known mechanisms to settle trade dis-putes, venting on the airwaves as the first course of action, is hardly a reflection of thekind of leadership to which Dr. Bourne has referred.

On another vexing issue – the outcry in both Barbados and Guyana over the new Barba-dian immigration policy of weeding out illegal Guyanese, and concerns by some EasternCaribbean leaders over the treatment of their nationals, it is interesting that that BarbadianPrime Minister David Thompson is using the “interference in the internal affairs” strategyused in the past by some CARICOM Governments, notably Guyana.

Separate and apart from the Barbados immigration policy, CARICOM nationals need anupdate on the progress towards the movement of labour, an integral part of the CSME.Regarding “hassle-free” travel of CARICOM citizens within the region, all twelve coun-tries participating in the CSME have put in place the CARICOM passport that entitles theholder to a six-month stay, something that immigration officers need to uphold. The Headsof Government will hopefully provide information on the status of CARIPASS, whichentitles qualifying frequent Caribbean travellers to bypass immigration lines.

One of the encouraging CARICOM developments that Bourne cited is the harmonizationof regulations to facilitate capital movement in the region.

There have been several positive developments in functional cooperation, specifically in

CARICOM leaders will also map out theirapproach to upcoming talks with U.S. PresidentBarrack Obama, with issues such as crime andsecurity, assistance for debt relief, climate change,trade and the reform of multilateral financialinstitutions expected to be on the agenda.

ment agreement. The leaders have to decide on a replacement for the head of the Carib-bean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM), which is being incorporated into theCARICOM Secretariat and is about to be relocated to Jamaica. In the process, CRNM haslost its head, veteran Caribbean trade negotiator, Henry Gill and some other staff membersare not too keen on moving to Kingston. A former Jamaican diplomat with internationaltrade experience is the leading candidate to replace Gill as Director-General.

CARICOM leaders will also map out their approach to upcoming talks with U.S. Presi-dent Barrack Obama, with issues such as crime and security, assistance for debt relief,climate change, trade and the reform of multilateral financial institutions expected to beon the agenda. A working group from both sides is meeting within weeks for initial discus-sions on security cooperation and discuss projects under the US $ 45 million allocated forthe region, $US 15 million more than announced by President Obama in Trinidad in April.

Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow recently rated the performance of CARICOM as a sixor seven out of ten. No details were provided on what areas of progress contributed to the60 to 70 per cent scorecard. Perhaps the three-member CARICOM Bureau, which meetsin between Summits and will now be headed by the energetic and no-nonsense Jagdeo,will keep the public informed on CARICOM’s track record, something that the donorswill undoubtedly be monitoring.

Sandra Ann Baptiste is a Business Consultant and Specialist in Caribbean Affairs.


[email protected]

How do I know what financing isbest for my circumstances?

I receive calls all the time from people wanting to know the best solution to their borrow-

ing needs and often I end up educating people on programs they are not familiar with. For

those of you who are finally getting off the fence and making the move to purchase a home

or refinance your existing home I have done some information gathering for you. Al-

though rates and closing costs vary from program to program I encourage you to call or

email me anytime to determine what program and term bests suits your needs.

USDA Rural Development Home Loan

This program is designed to appeal to home purchasers selecting homes in rural classi-

fied areas.

Details:

• No down payment needed

• US Citizen or Permanent Resident

• Have an adjusted annual household income that does not exceed the moderate income

limit established for the area where home is located

• No explanations on credit when FICO score of 620+

• Total debt divided by gross monthly income must be equal to, or less than, 41 percent

Benefits:

• Unrestricted gifts for down payment assistance

• Guaranteed loans can be made on either new or existing homes

• No Maximum purchase price limits, No PMI, No reserves needed

• Finance as much as 102% of the homes appraised value

FHA 203(b)

The most popular FHA home loan is the 203(b). This fixed-rate loan often works well forfirst time home buyers because it allows individuals to finance up to 97 percent of theirhome loan which helps to keep down payments and closing costs at a minimum. The203(b) home loan is also the only loan in which 100 percent of the closing costs can be agift from a relative, non-profit, or government agency.

Insurance on FHA mortgages are often rolled into the total monthly payment at 0.5 per-cent of the total loan amount which is roughly half of the price of mortgage insurance ona conventional loan. After five years or when the loan balance reaches 78 percent, theadditional mortgage insurance is typically met and therefore drops off the total monthlypayment. Seller contributions up to 6%

Real Estate Q & Awith Barbara Ashley-Jones

Guidelines:

It is not necessary to meet a minimum income requirement in order to qualify for a FHAloan but debt ratios specific to the state in which the home will be purchased have been putinto place to prevent borrowers from getting into a home they cannot afford. This is donethrough a close analysis of income and monthly expenses.

VA Guaranteed Mortgage Loan

This program was designed to assist eligible veterans with obtaining mortgage financing.

• 100% financing for eligible veterans• 4% allowable seller contribution towards closing costs• Competitive fixed mortgage rates• Debt to Income ratio of less than 43% of adjustable gross income• No Mortgage Insurance required• Veteran can use entitlement multiple times• Loan is assumable• Loans up to $147,000 throughout Central Florida

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

This program was designed to stimulate the real estate industry through a tax credit.

Details:

• You purchase and close a primary residence before December 1, 2009• You have an adjusted net income of less than 75K / Single or 150K / Joint• You have not owned a home in the past 36 months

Benefits:

• You receive a credit for 10% of the home price up to 80K• You do NOT have to pay back the Tax Credit if you maintain the home as your primary

residence for more than 3 years• You can claim your tax credit by: Filing an amended 2008 tax return or claim the tax

credit on 2009 tax return

Neighborhood Stabilization Program

This program was created to respond to rising foreclosures and property abandonment.

Details:

• Can not currently own a home• Must meet certain income guidelines• Must have a minimum credit score of 620• Two years must have lapsed from: foreclosures, bankruptcy, judgment, etc.• INVESTORS are not allowed to purchase under this program• Must have legal right to reside in the USA

Benefits:

• Up to $35,000 down-payment assistance• Buyer contribution as low as 1.75% of purchase price• 0% interest 15 year second held by Orange County• Purchase prices up to $219,000

For answers to any real estate or mortgage financing questions call or email me [email protected] • Mobile - (407) 448-5450


By Tem Kudakwashe

Caribbean American elected officials, business and community leaders from around thecountry gathered in Washington, DC last month for the annual Caribbean AmericanLegislative Forum at which a range of issues affecting the Caribbean American commu-nity and the Caribbean region was discussed.

Organized by the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS), the week’s activities were high-lighted by a briefing at the White House which included presentations by Valerie Jarret,senior adviser and assistant to the president for intergovernmental affairs and public en-gagement, Van Jones, Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for theWhite House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), teams from the Department ofCommerce headed by Assistant Secretary of Commerce Dr. Walter Bastian which madepresentations on the 2010 census and on trade with the Caribbean and a team from theWhite House which focused on immigration issues.

The briefing which provided for interaction between presenters and participants was chairedby Michael A. Blake, Deputy Associate Director, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs &Public Engagement at the White House. This briefing was followed by a forum on CapitolHill involving Congresswomen Barbara Lee, Yvette Clarke and Donna Christensen andCongressman Gregory Meeks.

This forum addressed issues in trade and energy, health care, and the 2010 census and anumber of recommendations emerged from the deliberations. Among the speakers on thetrade and energy panel was Wesley Kirton, publisher of the Caribbean Sun newspaper whowas recently named executive director of the new US/Caribbean Basin Resource Network.

Speaking on the panel on Issues in Trade and Energy, Dr David Lewis, Vice President ofManchester Trade, spoke on the subject of US-Caribbean Trade Relations. He expoundedon where the Caribbean fits into US pursuit of international trade agreements. He ex-plained that as early as 1983, the Caribbean was given special trade preferences with theUS via the Caribbean Basin Initiative. However, US trade relations with other countrieshave since outstripped such advantages. The English speaking Caribbean for example,now has service economies as against manufacturing, and this poses new challenges sincethe current US administration is not likely to give much attention to preferences for ser-vice economies, Lewis said.

“ The Caribbean (among others) cannot expect to export its way out of a recession,” Lewissaid. However, he said that hope lies in the new Obama Initiative on new energy sources.

Caribbean American leaders meetin Washington

White House briefing, Capitol Hill forum among key activitiesOf note, Dr. Lewis feels that with the opening up of other tourism ventures in other regions ofthe world, the Caribbean may seize the opportunity to export the “Know How” on tourism.

Shawn Ricks of the Department of Commerce’s Western Hemisphere International TradeAdministration, spoke on the advantages and pitfalls of Free Trade Competitiveness forthe Caribbean. She noted that the 2009 Americas Competitiveness Forum was coming upin Santiago Chile later this year and that at the time of her speaking, it appeared thatattendance by Caribbean delegates was lacking. She did said that the Chilean Governmentshould be encouraged to promote or create an atmosphere for the conference that would inturn inspire participation by Caribbean delegates.

Mr. Wesley Kirton, publisher of the Florida Caribbean Sun, was a member of this paneland symposium and covered the topic of Small Business Concerns. He expressed muchconcern over the apparent lack of inter-agency coordination that seriously impacts someimport products from the Caribbean. The agencies referred to were the US Customs andthe ATF. For example he said, a product designated as cooking wine and cleared by the USCustoms for grocery shelves, lead to hefty fines on grocery store owners by the ATF,because of the alcohol content. Worthwhile noting also is his note about US bound ship-ping containers being broken into and their integrity compromised, without breaking theseals. Mr. Kirton was mystified as to how such is done, and cautioned that importersshould be aware of such possibilities.

Panel member Mr. Ainsley Gill is founder and Managing Member of The AGA Groupand seasoned entrepreneur whose firm is dedicated to advancing international policyinterests in the US. He is a consultant to the Trinidad and Tobago government butworks with other governments such as Equatorial Guinea. With respect to energysources he said that the use of fossil fuels will be continue for at least another fiftyyears. Mr. Gill made it clear that “We need energy Policies,” going ahead. And to thesurprise of many he stated that one southern state had gas reserves enough to supplythe entire US for eleven years. However, he noted that it was not yet feasible to ex-tract such gas. He added that the government of T&T, along with its creating newenergy opportunities for business, was taking into account the energy needs of itsCaricom partners.

The panel was chaired by Anton Edmunds, Executive Director & CEO of Caribbean Cen-tral American Action, an independent corporation that promotes private sector-led eco-nomic development in the Caribbean & Central America.

Tem Kudakwashe is a Caribbean American businessman from Central Florida.

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is soliciting bids (IFB) and proposals (RFP) for avariety of goods and services, construction, andarchitectural/engineering services. Interested partiesmay receive documents via the internet atorangecountyfl.net. A list of open solicitations is alsoavailable on the County’s Bid Hotline at (407) 836-0011,or view Orange TV, TWC cable channel 9.

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Visit our web site (orangecountyfl.net)* and sign up forelectronic notification of County solicitations. On theweb site, select Services Online and click on VendorRegistration System. For assistance, please [email protected] or call (407) 836-5635.

Michael Barnes (left), White House Associate Director for Inter-governmental Affairsand Public Engagement welcomes Caribbean Sun Publisher Wesley Kirton tothe White House for the briefing.

The panel on trade and energy in session on Capitol Hill.


By Yvette Ramkissoon

If you missed the Tampa Bay Carnival on June 14th then you should do yourself afavor and make sure your there next year! It took place in the historic district of St.Petersburg in the beautiful Vinoy Park over looking the Sea. The weather was per-fect, the people were enthused, the performers put on quite a show, and the vendorswere delighted.

Although the parade route was a lot shorter than usual this year the bands came out infull force which is the real reason of having Carnival. Much do respect goes to theband leaders and masqueraders who took part in the Tampa Bay Carnival this year.The largest Band on the Road was a band called: “Shottas” brought to you by ShottasEntertainment Inc. with the music provided by: Powerline Sounds HD out of Orlando,and Dj. Spice out of Tampa. The “Tribe of Pride” band was also representing fromOrlando and was recognized as being the most elaborately decorated mas band thisyear which was brought by the “Man Gone Mad Crew” of D’ Mas Camp Bar &Restaurant. The band “We Dutty” was brought by Natural Mystic SoundSation fromOrlando. There were also several other smaller bands that participated in the parade

Tampa Bay Carnival wasfull of excitement!

(PERFORMACES BY: ALLISON HINDS, SEAN PAUL, LEON COLDERO, ROGERGEORGE, AND CODE 868)

portion of the Carnival.

The Official Tampa Bay Carnival takes place every year in mid June and every year itattracts people of all walks of life by the thousands. This year there was well over 12,000people who attended the Carnival Sunday, not mention the Saturday night which wasgeared toward the Latin American Community and featured performances by the SalsaKing: Gilberto Santa Rosa and attracted at least 10,000. MC Smallie did a phenomenaljob at introducing the performers and keeping the crowd entertained between performances,as did a host of talented dj’s who were in the park. Carnival Sunday in Vinoy Park was themain feature for the weekend and the show started off right when Leon Coldero, RogerGeorge and Code 868 lit the fire with all of their energy and charisma. Then when theypassed the torch to the Soca Diva herself Ms. Allison Hinds out of Barbados the crowdwent wild as she performed all of her hit songs like: Bumpers, Obsessive Winers, Role itGyal, and Chocolate & Vanilla just to name a few. Sean Paul also rocked the park with hisreggae chants & lyrics as the fans sang along and nearly broke down barricades just to geta closer glimpse of the Reggae superstar. TampaBay Carnival has the perfect combinationof music, people, culture, families, fun, and vibes and I highly recommend it to anyonethat is looking to have a great carnival time!

Win two tickets toQC brunch

The new Queens College AlumniAssociation of Central Florida is offeringtwo complimentary tickets to its July 19brunch to the first person who correctlyanswers the following question:

Give the date (month and year) whenQueen College was first officially opened.

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BUSINESSAction Plan to expand

business betweenthe US and Caribbean

Participants in the 4th Caribbean-American Business Expo and Conference in Orlando,Florida are formulating an Action Plan after two days of intensive discussions on strate-gies to improve and expand trade and investment with the Caribbean region.

The June 10-12 Forum, with the theme “The Caribbean American Relationship in this Eraof Change”, organized by Florida’s Caribbean Sun, with sponsorship from a wide rangeof Caribbean businesses, examined trade, investment, social and other issues against thebackdrop of the current global recession..

Delegates committed to preparing a follow-up Plan to pursue the many recommendationsemerging from the Conference and will circulate their report to Caribbean governments,the U.S. administration as well as Caribbean and American business organizations, andthe CARICOM Secretariat.

The Expo and Conference heard from United States Agency for International Develop-ment (USAID) Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, James Goggin,Chief of Staff of the Office of Orange County Mayor, George Rodon, former U.S. Ambas-sador Harriet L. Elam Thomas as well as representatives from the Florida Governor’sOffice and the University of the West Indies (UWI).

Mr. Goggin, speaking on behalf of Acting Administrator of USAID, Alonzo Fulgham,told the opening ceremony that the U.S. will provide stepped up financial assistance foreducation programs, focusing on youth in an effort to address violence in the Caribbean,which he identified as the number one social problem in the region.

He also highlighted the negative effects of crime on business, tourism and attracting for-eign investment.

In addition, Mr. Goggin noted that U.S and Caribbean security officials will be meeting withinthe next month to start working out the framework for increased cooperation on security.

He also announced that the U.S. administration will be making available funds for smallbusinesses in the region.

Ambassador Thomas advised that the region should adopt a unified approach to the U.S.Government and seek to engage senior officials of the Barack Obama administration.

Participants at the Forum heard from the U.S. Customs officials who emphasized the needfor training in the region in certification in order to comply with United States Departmentof Agriculture (USDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.

U.S. Shipping officials highlighted the challenges they face in terms of screening con-tainers from the Caribbean for drugs and the exorbitant costs involved.

The Business Forum heard calls for USAID to provide funding for regional organizationssuch as the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), in particular its Special Development Fund(SDF), Caribbean Export and the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC).

Both panelists and participants were harshly critical over the pace of regional integrationand the delay in the full implementation of programs announced by CARICOM leaders,including the Caribbean Court of Justice and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy(CSME). The Caribbean Diaspora urged that the CARICOM Heads of Government, at theirannual meeting in Guyana next month, send a strong signal that they will “put their house inorder” to take advantage of the new opportunities presented by the Obama administration.

The Forum identified a number of impediments to doing business in the Caribbean, espe-cially the length of time it takes to gain approval for various permits.

The Trinidad and Tobago-based Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Insti-tute (CARDI), updated participants on developments to reinvigorate the region’s agricul-tural sector and the drive to attract investment for agricultural development, includingseveral new initiatives to grow exports to the U.S. market.

There were spirited exchanges over the issue of criminal deportees to the Caribbean andits impact on crime in the region. The Conference called on the U.S. administration torevisit its policy on notification to regional governments and to ensure that assistance isavailable for rehabilitation programs for deportees.

The Action Plan, to be put together within the next few weeks by a Conference Committee,will include plans to lobby the U.S. administration, including Congress, on the deportees issue.

The Caribbean-American Business Expo and Conference, which commemorated the ob-servance of Caribbean-American Heritage month, is the brainchild of Wesley Kirton, CEOof Florida Caribbean Enterprises Inc, which publishes Florida’s Caribbean Sun.

Address to Florida CaribbeanBusiness Expo & Conference

– Continued from page 9 –portant results which are being used to help inform public policy. Please allow me toshare some of these results with you.

We found that almost half of Jamaican households received remittances in 2006. Some71% of recipients use remittance transfer companies, while 16% obtained remittancesthrough relatives and friends - defined as informal means. Females headed householdsreceived more remittances than those households headed by males. For those receivingremittances in money form only, one third reported receiving these funds monthly, 16%quarterly and 17% occasionally. Those households who received goods only, 38.4% re-ported that they received goods annually, while 17.5% received half yearly. About 70%of cash remittances are used mainly for consumption purposes, while other major useswere for education (10%), health (10%) and entertainment (3.2%). In terms of the mainmigrant host countries from which remittances are sent, 64.7% of remitters reside inUSA, 18.7% in UK, 6.5% in Canada and 3.6% in Cayman Islands.

Unfortunately, due mainly to financing constraints, we have not yet studied the non-English-speaking Caribbean, but this represents an area of interest given their impor-tance. In addition, we have focused exclusively on the remittance recipients, and not theremitters; this is an area of research which we are targeting and exploring the possibilitiesof partnerships with US institutions, in both the public and private sectors.

We are interested in broadening the scope of our work to examine factors that impact thesenders of remittances. In this particular period of world economic crisis, we assess thatthis is a critical area of study which will better equip us to make more informed policyrecommendations with respect to both the recipient as well as remitter aspects of theremittance transfer phenomenon.

In conclusion, while we cannot exhaust the discussion on the Caribbean Diasporic economyat this Caribbean-American Business Expo and Conference, this forum provides an im-portant opportunity for us to establish a framework for productive alliances and positivefuture outcomes to mutually enhance the Caribbean as a migrant source country and theUSA, more particularly Florida, as the migrant destination country of choice. The De-partment of Economics, UWI and the wider UWI community stands ready to play anintegral role in this exercise.

Stanley Ming’s Guyana 21presentation

Guyanese businessman Stanley Ming was among Caribbean entrepreneurs coming to Or-lando for the recent Caribbean American Business Expo. During his visit, Ming, a formermember of parliament took the opportunity to meet with Guyanese and update them ondevelopments back home particularly in the area of infrastructure development and in-vestment opportunities.

Ming gave a power point presentation on the Guyana 21 plan, a development plan puttogether by private sector leaders aimed at propelling Guyana’s development in the 21stcentury. He pointed out that notwithstanding deficient leadership in government, Guyanaremains a potentially rich country with lucrative investment opportunities in sectors suchas land development and agribusiness including the processing of fruits and vegetables.

Here, Ming (4th from left) is pictured with from left Mark Bannister, John Caby, Tommy

Smith, Lloyd Phillips, Jerry King and Sammy Roberts.


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caribbean sun news july 09 part 2[1]

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